Description
Here we are delighted to offer for sale a car which represents what the Talbot competition department may themselves have produced had they continued in international sports car races beyond the 1932 season. As a low-slung two-seater based on period correct Talbot parts, it is easy to imagine this car competing against the latest products from Bugatti, Delahaye and Alfa Romeo in international sports car races in the mid 1930s and as its performance in historic racing has shown it would certainly have given them something to think about.
The origins of this car date back to stalwart Talbot enthusiast and engineer Paul Leat acquiring a very derelict 1934 Talbot AV95 saloon in the 1960s, the AV95 was essentially the more formal variant of the AV105, the car around which all of Talbots competition successes were achieved, sharing the same highly tuneable 3-Litre straight six engine.
Leat wanted to combine this engine with a redundant Talbot BD Type chassis he had, to create a 2-seater sports car representing what he thought Talbot would have done had their competition programme continued into the mid-1930s. The BD was one of the drop chassis type Talbot chassis produced from 1934 onwards, giving the cars a much lower and more modern appearance.
Over many years Leat transplanted the mechanical parts from the AV95 into the BD chassis. Shortening the chassis from the standard 120 inches to 104. 5 inches, altering the crossmembers and clothing it in a two seater pointed tail body, he also made the decision to supercharge the car, using a Godfrey blower.
Finally completed in the 1990s, Leat used ‘AYL’ sparingly until selling it to fellow Talbot enthusiast Peter Swete in 1997, by which point the supercharger had been removed.
Swete entrusted the car to our sister restoration company IS Polson for a programme of tuning and refinement. Thus the tail was shortened to make the proportions more to his taste, the spare wheel was moved to inside the boot, driving position, floor and peddles altered, weight was removed where possible. The brakes were upgraded with Alfin type aluminium drums. A three carburetor setup was fitted along with a multi branch exhaust system, both of which had previously been made for Swete by Arthur Archer and many other detail jobs carried out. Swete then used the car successfully in VSCC races until 2003 when he passed it on to Bill Douie.
Douie had ambitious plans for ‘AYL’ and as such a whole host of improvements were carried out on his behalf by IS Polson. These centred around having a new engine built around a new aluminium cylinder block and head as used by the Works competition Talbots in 1931, thus giving an enormous saving in weight, whilst a new sump was fitted at the same time. Simultaneously the engine was fitted with upgraded crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and a high lift camshaft, to ensure longevity a modern oil filter conversion was installed. In order to make the car a more practical touring car doors were fitted and the size of the petrol tank increased. At the same time the front axle was rebuilt, as was the preselector gearbox by renowned specialist Cecil Schumacher. During what amounted to a virtual complete rebuild of the car ‘AYL’ was also re-trimmed by John Foy. Please see copious invoices on file for this work.
Folllowing this extensive work Bill Douie had our own John Polson race the car for him to ensure it was as well sorted as possible for his own use. A successful season of pre-War sportscar racing with the VSCC and Motor Racing Legends was embarked upon. In which straight out of the box the car proved competitive. Culminating in ‘AYL’ finishing 3rd overall in the Motor Racing Legends hour long pre-War sports car race at Spa in Belgium, beaten only by a highly developed supercharged Aston Martin and a very quick supercharged Grand Prix Bugatti.
Following this successful season of racing Douie used ‘AYL’ sparingly for continental touring. Before making the decision to sell the car due to advancing age.
The current owner acquired ‘AYL’ from Douie in 2014. A keen hillclimber he has used the car enthusiastically at venues such as Prescott, Harewood and Loton Park, whilst also enjoying the car as a fine fast road car on high days and holidays.
During his ownership the car has been maintained by respected vintage car specialist Tip Top Engineering and has benefitted from a new radiator, improved multi branch exhaust system, fitment of 4 lightweight aluminium rimmed wheels and conversion from 3 to 2 SU carburetors, amongst many other smaller jobs. The car is offered with an easily detachable full-width windscreen and luggage rack for touring.
Only offered for sale due to the owner who is now over eighty years old, needing a smaller and lighter competition car to share with his wife. As proved previously ‘AYL’ will make an ideal and competitive VSCC or Motor Racing Legends competition car, or a potentially very competitive rally car in events such as the Flying Scotsman or Shamrock pre-War events, or indeed would be very well suited to more relaxed high speed touring.
